Future Horizons

The Importance of Partnerships and Operative Projects in Advancing Science Education in Africa

Antonia Weinmann, Rebecca Ottmann & Badin Borde (Siemens Stiftung)

The Importance of Science Education in Africa 

Science education is a crucial factor for Africa’s development and progress, especially given the continent’s young and growing population. Education has the potential to drive socio-economic development, create a skilled workforce, and lead to stronger and more peaceful democracies (UNICEF 2022). Furthermore, education – and science education in particular – plays a critical role in addressing the challenges of climate change and promoting sustainable development (Borde et al. 2024). By integrating vocational orientation in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) lessons, African youth are equipped with practical skills tailored to the needs of industry. This approach not only promotes economic growth but also innovation. However, African education systems face numerous challenges which hinder progress: limited financial resources, the impacts of climate change and the need to update teacher training programs. Initiatives like the eLearning Africa conference provide a valuable platform for different stakeholders to share ideas and collaborate to advance education across the continent.  

The importance of networks and partnerships for science education 

To overcome these barriers in education, fostering partnerships and implementing operative projects are essential for achieving sustainable improvements in Africa’s diverse education landscape. Networks and educational ecosystems aim to create an effective exchange between global knowledge and local practice and achieve greater impact through collaboration among diverse stakeholders. By pooling resources and expertise, these networks foster innovation, enabling educational approaches and projects that are tailored to teachers’ and learners’ needs, and often influence public policy to create lasting social change (Lundell et al. 2023). Education networks bridge the gap between global knowledge and local needs. They adapt international expertise to specific contexts and at the same time ensure that local realities are incorporated into global strategies. By promoting high-quality STEM education, networks equip learners with skills for the 21st century, focusing on pressing issues like climate change and sustainable development. They strengthen local communities, enable collaborative solutions for regional challenges, support teacher professionalization and scale effective educational approaches for broader impact. The ALEC network (América Latina para la Educación en Cambio Climático), for example, connects local actors – such as governments, non-governmental organizations and national academies of science from the region – with global partners to create contextualized and adapted teaching materials and improve teacher training. Building on these experiences from Latin America, the ARRICE initiative (African Resilient Initiative for Climate Education) is being launched in Kenya, Senegal, and Mauritius in collaboration with Siemens Stiftung, the OCE and local partners. This four-year project (2025–2028) aims to strengthen local actors and support the development of sustainable climate education structures. 

The publication “How can networks help encourage the development and professionalization of innovative early STEM Education in a changing world?” by the IDoS Peer Network (International Dialogue on STEM Education) highlights different types of networks in the field of education, including: 

  • Resilience networks: Strengthen communities and foster collaboration across sectors. 
  • Scaling networks: Expand successful educational approaches to a wider audience. 
  • Action networks (e.g., ALEC): Focus on specific tasks and projects to address challenges. 
  • Movement networks: Align members around shared goals and advocate for systematic change. 
  • Learning networks: Facilitate knowledge sharing and the exchange of innovative practices.   
  • Knowledge networks: Collaborate strategically to create or utilize new knowledge. 

To conclude, partnerships in education not only enable a more efficient use of resources but also promote the exchange of knowledge and ideas, contribute to sustainable networks and make educational opportunities accessible to a wider target group (Lundell et al. 2023). For more information, see the full paper here. 

Operative Projects as Catalysts for Education 

Operative projects play a key role in the implementation of educational strategies and the promotion of educational innovations. They serve as catalysts that can bring about positive change through targeted measures and cooperation. Various initiatives illustrate how operative projects can achieve educational goals and respond to social challenges at the same time: 

  • eLearning Africa is a central hub for the transformation of education in Africa and acts as a catalyst for operative education projects. The conference brings together decision-makers, experts and investors to develop innovative solutions. The conference promotes networking, showcases successful projects and provides a platform for dialogue on challenges.  
  • The International Dialogue on STEM Education (IDoS), launched in 2020 by Stiftung Kinder Forschen and Siemens Stiftung, is a global learning network that promotes high-quality early STEM education and raises awareness of its importance. As a “network of networks,” IDoS brings together leading organizations such as LUMA Centre Finland, Fondation La main à la pâte, Smithsonian Science Education Center, and the Office for Climate Education (OCE) to share knowledge and experience. Through this collaboration, members such as the Stiftung Kinder Forschen benefit from the insights that the Smithsonian Science Education Center, for example, has gained on the implementation of STEM reforms, thus driving innovation in education worldwide. 
  • Red STEM Latinoamérica (RSL), initiated by Siemens Stiftung, is a regional network of over 180 public and private education stakeholders from Latin America. Its mission is to strengthen STEM education in the region and promote collaboration between various stakeholders, including universities, educational academies, non-governmental organizations and international organizations such as UNESCO and OCE. RSL members work together to develop and improve STEM educational content and training programs. Within RSL, the thematic working tables (Mesas Regionales) focus on specific STEM education topics, providing platforms for members to exchange knowledge and experiences. For example, one working table could focus on the integration of climate education into STEM lessons, drawing on the expertise of the Office for Climate Education (OCE). 
  • The STEMplus Territories are local resilience networks initiated by Siemens Stiftung in Latin America to strengthen communities and promote collaboration between civil society, government and business. In these networks, schools, teachers, students and other stakeholders work together to develop solutions to local problems and increase resilience to future challenges. With STEMplus Territories in the region, stakeholders are enabled to take a closer look at the effects of climate change and develop local adaptation strategies. One example of this is the project “Educación en Cambio Climático Veracruz-ECC Veracruz” in Mexico, which pursues educational approaches specifically tailored to the region’s climate challenges (Borde et al. 2024).  

Examples of successful operative projects in Africa 

As mentioned above, operative projects serve as catalysts for change and enable more effective and better-tailored educational approaches. Successful operative projects are characterized by local relevance, cross-sector collaboration, sustainable impact, a focus on capacity building, international networks and clear objectives. In Africa, such projects are particularly effective when they are developed and implemented by local institutions to ensure that they meet the needs of the community. The integration of digital technologies further improves learning processes and expands access to education. From interactive tools to web-based training and hybrid learning models, these innovations support skills development and capacity building. This aligns with broader discussions within the eLearning Africa conference on the transformative role of digital education across the continent. The following section presents three operative projects that illustrate these principles and showcase effective, locally driven educational initiatives in Africa: 

  1. The BeMINT_Nigeria project is a great example of an operative project that aims to strengthen hands-on skills-based education for young adults to improve their employability. After successful completion of 2022/23, BeMINT_Nigeria 2.0 is renewed as a three-year training and internship project. Launched by Siemens Stiftung in cooperation with the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), the Delegation of German Industry and Commerce in Nigeria (AHK), the Nigerian NGO Empowering Africans Through Education Initiative (EAE) and the Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board (LASUBEB), it aims to provide 400 school leavers aged 18 to 24 from low-income households in Nigeria with practical and digital skills for the technical and digital labour market. There is a particular focus on promoting 21st-century skills such as creativity, teamwork, problem-solving and critical thinking. To address the underrepresentation of women in STEM professions, gender parity is taken into account. Participants receive a certificate that confirms their training to German standards and improves their chances in the job market. BeMINT_Nigeria shows how targeted educational measures and collaboration with local partners can bring about positive change. In the first phase of the project, 304 people completed STEM training and 142 started an internship. 

2. The WeLearn program is a four-week training course run by Siemens Stiftung and WeTu (social enterprise) in Kenya to prepare school graduates for technical careers in the sustainability sector. With 50% of the places for girls, the project promotes gender equality. It closes the gap between school theory and practical application and inspires young people to pursue a career in the sustainable economy. Participants acquire technical skills such as the operation of solar pumps, the installation of solar cells and the handling of charging stations for electric vehicles. The program is supplemented by business skills and content on social entrepreneurship, taught by regional WeTu experts who act as role models. WeLearn pursues several goals: It motivates young people to start technical training programs at TVET colleges, facilitates entry into technical professions, promotes entrepreneurial thinking and shows girls in particular career opportunities in the green sector. With the motto “Hands-on – Minds-on”, WeLearn has already trained two successful cohorts, half of whom have taken a path into the technical field. It is making an important contribution to strengthening the local economy and building a skilled, gender-equal labour market in Kenya. 

3.  Siemens Stiftungs’s Experimento program in Ghana is another example of a successful operative project. It promotes hands-on learning in STEM and supports vocational orientation in these areas. It offers certified training seminars for teachers that are aligned with the new competency-based curriculum and strengthens digital skills. One focus is on combining STEM content with practical vocational applications. Teachers are given access to extensive media packages and web-based training (WBT) that inspire teaching the diversity of STEM professions. Computational thinking is also used to promote digital skills in the classroom. The open platform Arduino and microcontrollers are used to deepen electronics and programming skills. The program is coordinated by the NGO Experimento Ghana LBG and supported by the Ghana Education Service to sustainably strengthen the STEM sector. 

Conclusion and Outlook 

Partnerships and operative projects are essential to driving the development of science education across Africa, addressing local needs, fostering innovation, and building capacity to meet 21st-century challenges such as climate change and digital transformation. Projects like BeMINT_Nigeria, WeLearn, and Experimento Ghana demonstrate the potential of adapted approaches to provide relevant skills, promote gender equity, and enhance vocational training aligned with global standards. Platforms such as eLearning Africa play an important role by bringing together different stakeholders and facilitating knowledge exchange. To optimally address upcoming global challenges, scaling successful initiatives, fostering cross-sector collaboration and leveraging digital tools and networks will be critical to expanding quality science education in Africa. Continued investment in these areas will help unlock Africa’s potential, foster resilient communities and empower youth to contribute meaningfully to sustainable socio-economic progress. 

Sources: 

UNICEF. (2022). Transforming education in Africa: Delivering education for the future. Retrieved from https://www.unicef.org/media/106691/file/Transforming%20Education%20in%20Africa.pdf

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